Busuanga history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Busuanga dates back to deep antiquity, long before the establishment of modern administrative boundaries. Originally, the island's territory was inhabited by indigenous peoples, particularly the Tagbanua and Calamian tribes, who cultivated the land here for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. During the Spanish colonial period, this area was part of the Calamianes province and was governed by Spanish authorities as part of a larger territory.

As an independent administrative unit, the municipality of Busuanga was formed much later. An official milestone in its history is considered to be June 17, 1950, when, in accordance with a legislative act of the Republic of the Philippines, it was separated from the municipality of Coron, receiving its own governing bodies and boundaries.

Key Factors of Formation

The development of the settlement and its transformation into a full-fledged municipality were determined by several important factors:

• Geographical Location: Busuanga occupies the western part of the island of the same name, the largest in the Calamian Group of Islands. This strategic location between Mindoro and the main island of Palawan facilitated migration and maritime communication.
• Natural Resources: The presence of extensive mangrove forests, protected bays, and fertile land for farming attracted settlers seeking stable sources of sustenance.
• Political Necessity: Population growth on the island in the mid-20th century required more effective administrative management, which led to the division of the island into two jurisdictions — Coron and Busuanga.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The economy of early Busuanga was predominantly agrarian and subsistence-oriented. The life of the local population was built around interaction with nature:

• Marine Activities: Fishing, as well as the gathering of shellfish and seaweed, formed the basis of the diet and early trade.
• Agriculture: Residents engaged in cultivating rice, coconuts, and cashews, as well as raising livestock on the pastures characteristic of the landscape in the western part of the island.
• Cultural Heritage: Despite the introduction of Christianity during the Spanish period, strong traditions of indigenous peoples have been preserved in the region, including specific land-use methods and a respectful attitude towards "sacred" natural sites.

Early History and Colonial Period

• Pre-1600s — The islands are settled by the indigenous Tagbanua and Calamian ethnic groups, engaged in fishing and gathering.
• 1622 — Arrival of the first Spanish Recollect missionaries in the Calamian Islands to spread Christianity.
• 1818 — The territory becomes part of the reorganized Spanish province of Calamianes, governed from the town of Taytay.
• 1902 — Establishment of American civil administration in the province of Palawan, to which the islands were annexed.

World War II and Gaining Status

• 1942 — Occupation of Busuanga Island by Japanese Imperial forces during World War II.
• September 24, 1944 — US Navy aircraft launch a devastating strike on the Japanese supply fleet sheltering in the waters around the island.
• June 17, 1950 — Republic Act No. 560 is enacted, officially creating the independent municipality of Busuanga by separating the western part of the island from the municipality of Coron.

Modern History

• August 31, 1976 — By presidential decree, a unique safari park with African animals is created on Calauit Island, which is part of the municipality.
• 2008 — A large-scale reconstruction of the airport on the island (now Francisco B. Reyes Airport) is completed, accelerating the flow of tourists.
• November 8, 2013 — Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) passes through the region, causing serious damage to infrastructure and the ecosystem, after which a massive recovery programme began.
• 2010s — Present — Busuanga establishes itself as a centre for eco-tourism and diving, developing resort zones distinct from the busier Coron.

Stages of Development and Their Significance

Busuanga's journey from a remote agrarian region to an important tourism centre in Palawan can be traced through several key transformations. These events have defined the modern economic and cultural appearance of the municipality.

• Administrative Autonomy (1950)
  The official separation from Coron allowed local authorities to focus on the development of the western and northern parts of the island.
  Significance: The emergence of its own budget launched the construction of schools, medical centres, and the administrative hub in the village of Salvacion.
• Opening of Calauit Reserve (1976)
  Creation of a safari park with exotic animals on a separate island within the municipality's jurisdiction.
  Significance: Busuanga gained a unique world-class tourist magnet, which stimulated the first flows of international travellers to this remote corner.
• Modernisation of the Road Network (2000s – 2010s)
  Large-scale concreting of the national road connecting the municipality with the airport and the eastern part of the island.
  Significance: A radical improvement in logistics. While the delivery of goods and movement of tourists previously depended on sea transport and weather, the new road made the west coast accessible for land transfers, boosting trade.
• Formation of a Tourism Hub in Concepcion
  Transformation of the coastal barangay (district) of Concepcion into a centre for diving and the hotel business.
  Significance: Diversification of the economy. The region ceased to be merely an agrarian appendage; infrastructure appeared to serve tourists seeking a quieter alternative to the busy town of Coron.
• Development of Cattle Ranching
  Utilisation of vast pasture lands (including on the territory of former major projects such as the Yulo King Ranch) for raising cattle.
  Significance: Busuanga secured its status as one of the main meat suppliers in the province of Palawan, maintaining a balance between tourism and agriculture.
• Post-Typhoon Recovery and Renovation (since 2013)
  A period of active construction following the destruction caused by Typhoon Yolanda.
  Significance: Renewal of housing stock and tourist facilities taking into account new standards of seismic and wind resistance, transitioning to more eco-friendly and reliable architectural solutions.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Busuanga differs significantly from the urban landscapes of major Philippine cities. Here, you will not find massive colonial Baroque cathedrals or skyscrapers. The appearance of the municipality was shaped by the tropical climate, the need for protection against typhoons, and the agrarian-tourism nature of the region. The development is predominantly low-rise and dispersed.

Traditional Architecture: The Vernacular Era

Historically, the main type of housing on the island was and remains the traditional Filipino house. This style dominated until the mid-20th century and continues to be used in rural areas.

• Style: Vernacular architecture (Bahay Kubo).
• Characteristics: Lightweight structures on stilts, raised above the ground for protection against floods and for air circulation. Use of local organic materials: bamboo, palm leaves (nipa) for roofing, and rattan.
• Current State: In remote barangays and fishing villages, this style is preserved, often combined with modern materials (for example, a concrete foundation).

Post-Colonial Period and Functionalism

With the development of administrative independence in the mid-20th century and the arrival of modern technologies, construction became more substantial. Aesthetics gave way to practicality and resilience against the elements.

• Style: Utilitarian functionalism.
• Characteristics: Transition to the use of concrete hollow blocks and galvanised iron for roofs. Houses become squat, with minimal decoration, the main goal being to withstand strong winds during the monsoon season.
• Urban Planning: Covered basketball courts (barangay courts) become the centre of public life, serving also as evacuation centres and meeting places.

Modern Resort Architecture

With the growth of Palawan's popularity as a tourist destination, a new architectural layer has formed in Busuanga, oriented towards island guests.

• Style: Tropical modernism and eco-style.
• Characteristics: Resorts and boutique hotels strive to blend buildings into the landscape. A combination of concrete, glass, and natural wood is used. Roofs are often stylised as traditional (made of thatch or shingles) but conceal modern waterproofing layers.
• Examples: The tourism cluster in the Concepcion area and along the Busuanga River, where villas are often built on the water or hillsides, minimising tree felling.

Urban Development and Zoning

The layout of the municipality reflects its history of separation from Coron town and the relocation of the administrative centre.

• Administrative Centre (Salvacion): The village of Salvacion is an example of planned development where government buildings are concentrated, including the Municipal Hall. A clear grid of streets and a concentration of concrete public buildings can be seen here.
• Coastal Settlements: In areas such as Old Busuanga, development is linear, stretching along the coastline and the main road. Houses often have access to the water for parking boats (bancas).
• Calauit Safari Park: A unique zone in the north, where architecture is limited to minimalist observation points and enclosures so as not to disturb the imitation of the African savannah.

Prominent Figures Linked to Busuanga

The history of Busuanga Island and the Calamian Archipelago is closely intertwined with the fates of politicians, military figures, and explorers. Below are persons whose decisions or actions have had a significant impact on the development of the region and its appeal to tourists.

• Ferdinand Marcos
  10th President of the Philippines

  The initiator of the creation of one of the island's main attractions — the Calauit Safari Park. In 1976, by his decree, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes were brought to the Calauit Peninsula (part of the Busuanga municipality) from Kenya, turning this corner of the Philippines into a unique wildlife sanctuary.

• William Halsey
  Fleet Admiral, US Navy

  A legendary American military commander during World War II. It was under his command on September 24, 1944, that aircraft of the US 3rd Fleet launched a devastating strike on the Japanese flotilla sheltering in the waters of Busuanga and Coron. The sunken ships are today pilgrimage sites for divers from all over the world.

• Alfred Marche
  French Naturalist and Ethnographer

  One of the first European scientists to conduct large-scale studies of the Calamian Islands in the 1880s. His works became a fundamental source of knowledge about the flora and fauna of the region, as well as the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous Tagbanua people inhabiting Busuanga.

• Rodolfo Aguilar
  Leader of the Indigenous Tagbanua People

  A prominent public figure from the Tagbanua community. He played a key role in the historic process of recognising the rights of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands and waters around the islands of Busuanga and Coron. This allowed for the preservation of the unique ecosystem and limited industrial fishing in tourist zones.

• Tomoyuki Yamashita
  General of the Imperial Japanese Army

  A figure inextricably linked with the tourist legends of the region. Although the supply ships sunk off the coast of Busuanga were not battleships, myths about "Yamashita's Gold", allegedly hidden in the holds of these vessels, have attracted explorers and adventure seekers to the island for decades.